Gilbert-Ash NI limited selects Workspace to Centralise Systems and Introduce Standardised Procedures

(I-Newswire) March 30, 2010 - As part of a significant system replacement contract announced today, Gilbert-Ash NI Limited will implement Workspace, making project data more accessible and employees more productive. By unifying systems and standardising procedures the company will be able to deliver a more consistent service to clients and gain a competitive advantage at the same time.

Gilbert-Ash NI Limited is a general building contractor operating throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, with offices in Belfast, Edinburgh and Peterborough. With a turnover in excess of £130m, the company is renowned for its flexibility and its ability to construct the most difficult and complex projects. Workspace ix will be used by 90 PC users, with additional modules being implemented for document control, tendering and supply chain management and RFI management. Gilbert-Ash will also be using the new Workspace eLearning functionality to assist the implementation programme.

Gilbert-Ash is currently running a range of different databases throughout the company and there is currently no central storage of emails, with individuals distributing them to who they think will be interested. Inevitably this means project members miss out on information.

Financial Director Ray Hutchinson has been looking at ways to improve the management of data within Gilbert-Ash for about 18 months: “We did some development work in SharePoint but realised that it could not perform the full range of functionality that we required. After this we looked at some other providers including Causeway and Union Square. The Workspace solution from Union Square offered the best fit for the business as it was the only product tailored specifically to the construction industry. I spoke to a number of existing Workspace clients, including the RPS Group, who gave a very positive view of Union Square and the Workspace product.”

Ray was impressed with the range of functionality that Workspace covered including email management, document management and control, project data management, sub-contractor tendering and Workspace’s ability to integrate with existing applications. Supply Chain Management is currently controlled using numerous spreadsheets which list approved sub-contractors and contacts. Ray’s vision was for a more intelligent approach to managing sub-contractors, which Workspace will help them to achieve: “With the Workspace Sub-contractor Tendering and Management module we will be able to hold valuable information on past job history and leverage that knowledge to enable us to make more informed decisions in the future.” Gilbert-Ash will be live with Workspace by July 2010.

About Union Square Software:
About Union Square Software
Based in Nottingham, UK, Union Square Software is the author of Workspace. Workspace has been developed to provide organisations from across the construction supply chain with real competitive advantage through the pragmatic introduction of portal technology which enables effective Knowledge Management. Workspace provides a range of solutions for project centric organisations including: corporate database, enquiry management, document control and project collaboration.

Union Square is taking part in the CARE Construction Adventure Challenge 2010. For more information visit www.carechallenge.org.uk/constructionchallenge

Company Contact Information
Union Square Software
Holly Fenton
7 The Triangle, NG2 Business Park
Nottingham
NG2 1AE
Phone : 01159 850055